Emmy's sick. :(

[slvrwhispr]

At the specialist.

It's feline leukemia.

She's not coming home.

[E's]

Oh my dear! I am so sorry! Wish there was something one could do or say to help. Love to you and to your family.
_________________________________
D. Monday Bradford
Austin, Texas

[Traci]

Slvr, am I too late?

Are you certain? Do you mean leukemia or FIP? Wasn't she tested for FELV/FIV when you took her in as a kitten?

OMG, I'm so sorry...........

[slvrwhispr]

The FeLV/FIV/HWag snap test came back immediately as a very strong positive.

She was tested as a kitten, but both vets have told me that they've been hearing of a lot of cases lately where previously negative tests are suddenly showing up as positive later on in life even with indoor-only cats.

The vet was very, very sure of the diagnosis, and I asked him point-blank if she was suffering. He said yes. I asked if there was anything all of medical science can do, and he said nothing other than make her marginally comfortable while nature takes its course. So I said to let her go.

I held her. She went peacefully. I'll be picking up her ashes in a few days. DH is sanitizing everything we can't throw away and replacing everything we can. Izzy has an appointment later this week to be tested.

I'm just numb.

[Traci]

Slvr, I don't want to take away from the nature of this thread, my heart so aches for Emmy and you.

I do feel it necessary however, for Izzy:

I have not heard of such snap tests being so unreliable, occasionally a batch can be unreliable, but if vets in your area are having positives later on, then they need to investigate the source of where they're buying the tests. Not only is it pricey to continue using unreliable tests, but vets using them are responsible for choosing reliable tests and protecting cats if they suspect unreliability.

Secondly, when a snap test produces a positive, it is prudent to follow that with a western blot, sent to an outside lab. One must always consider that additional test when a snap test detects a positive. Again, unreliability on a snap test is unacceptable if the vet doesn't also pursue the western blot for a better indication of whether positive or not.

Was Izzy also tested for FELV/FIV as a kitten?

Were both cats vaccinated appropriately for FVRCP with their full vaccination series?

It is unusual that Emmy's symptoms presented the way they did. Generally, there are other more noticeable and generalized symptoms of FELV and usually progressive over the course of months or years. Secondary infections are the most common, but many can be treated appropriately at the onset. Many FELV+ cats can lead comfortable, long lives as long as they are examined regularly and any suspicious health issue is detected and monitored.

It's possible her positive status went unnoticed (carrier state) and the stress of the move caused stress-contribution to the carrier state becoming active.

Please test Izzy ASAP, make sure the vet is using a reliable snap test, one that is NOT among those they have used in the past where they might have suspicion they are faulty. If, and I hope not, if the test is a weak positive, confirm with a western blot immediately.

If all is negative, vaccinate Izzy immediately for additional protection.

I can't tell you how sorry I am, my heart is breaking so much for you, please know that you gave Emmy so much in life, and there's a reason she chose you.

(((((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))

[slvrwhispr]

I'm trying to think through a very fuzzy brain through exactly what both vets said. From what I recall, they're both experiencing positives on previously negative cats that were tested as kittens. As they described it, it seems to me that it's just something they're starting to notice, so... who knows? I had both cats tested as kittens, and vaccinated... but the rescue organization that vaccinated Emmy... well... y'know, not that it matters, but boy do I ever wish now that I had more money at the time to take her to a better vet. But I wasn't anticipating another kitty in my life at the time. I'm glad I had her while I did, but I'd give anything to have her back for a long, long time.

For what it's worth, the vet we saw today was VERY, VERY confident that this was not a fixable case. There were probably multiple causes and, aside from testing for things that could affect Izzy, there was most likely no benefit for anyone in putting Emmy through the tests to find out for certain. He was very compassionate... not to mention much older and far more experienced than our routine care vet.

Izzy keeps pacing around upstairs, nosing open cabinets, head-butting open doors, looking all over for Emmy, then coming back to me and meowing sadly. Absolutely breaks my heart into a million pieces.

Like I said... Izzy has an appointment later this week (I forget when... DH is handling things right now; my brain is mush) to get tested.

In retrospect, Emmy had been a lot less playful for the last couple of months than she had been. I attributed it to colder weather, her being a Texas kitty and all, just making her want to quasi-hibernate a bit (sleep more, play less). Could have been that she was feeling sick since the fall and it just wasn't obvious at the time why. Who knows... all I can do now is make sure everything is taken care of with Izzy.

I'm glad I held her until she was gone, but I can't get the memory of handing her limp body over to the vet out of my head. That's not how I want to remember her, but I'm not ready to look at pictures/video of happier times yet.

[Traci]

I wish I knew more, that is, what the vets are doing about it. One thing is for certain, FELV- cats just don't simply become + outside of a protective series and environment (unless they are carriers or erratic vaccination history or introduced to a positive cat etc). The tests need to be evaluated NOW.

I didn't mean to imply that Emmy or any other cat would be or should be subject to invasive tests. A western blot only requires a blood sample, then sent to an outside lab better equipped with techniques to identify and confirm a virus.

Again, please discuss this thoroughly with whatever vet you're getting Izzy retested with. Before you do anything, you are entitled to an explaination if tests are unreliable and you are entitled to seek a vet who uses reliable tests.

[slvrwhispr]

Oh, I know. I'm sorry if I'm not communicating well. Like I said... my brain is mush.

Thing is... Emmy had lost so much weight so fast, she had lost so much muscle tone so fast, and she had become severely anemic since her last bloodwork less than a week ago... the vet says there were most likely multiple things wrong with her and there just wasn't any benefit to trying to diagnose, let alone treat. He said he was confident that there wasn't anything he, or anyone, could do to save her. I asked him honestly. He answered honestly, and compassionately, and I told him how much I appreciated it. He was very gentle, with both me and her. But that's what I mean about lots of invasive tests. He said they could go all the way, get a definitive diagnosis, and still not be able to save her life. She was simply too ill.

This vet said he's sending a full write-up of what he found and what he did to my routine care vet so she knows exactly what's going on and what needs to be done now. We also talked about routinely having Izzy tested, though I don't remember if we discussed the frequency, to make sure that we catch anything going on with her good and early, way before she gets as sick as Emmy did.

Little stinker... I seriously had NO idea she was feeling ill AT ALL until the morning I woke up and saw her with labored breathing on the kitchen table. I wish I had any idea before that... I don't know if it would have made a difference, but... maybe we could have had a little more time...

DH is heartbroken, too... we held each other and cried and he said to me, "I'm sorry for all the times I said she was your cat, not mine. She was mine. I loved that cat so much." I told him I knew he did, and it would be our little secret... lol... men have a reputation to uphold and all...

I was fine until my mom came home and was looking for her. Then I fell apart...

[slvrwhispr]

Oh, the other thing is, this isn't the vet I took Izzy to when I lived here before. That vet has priced themselves so ridiculously high they've become sort of a "designer" vet... and price of care does NOT always indicate quality of care. I don't much care for them. The vet practice I go to now for routine care now has taken care of Tyler his whole life and has done great treating his arthritis as he's aged, but the specific vet assigned to Emmy's case is fairly young, and it wouldn't surprise me if she hasn't seen a cat with Emmy's symptom set before. Again, I wish I had more time from when she first fell ill until we saw the specialist today, but... well, if it's FeLV and it took her that strong and that fast, it wouldn't have mattered much anyway.

But anyway, my point is. Izzy had her snap test done here in Michigan in 2005 I believe... and Emmy had hers done in Texas in 2008. So it's not just a single-vet issue, from what they're saying.

Then again, I only have paperwork saying that the rescue org vaccinated Emmy... so... who knows... Hindsight is 20/20...

[Sue and Kids]

Oh, Sylvr, what a terrible way to start this new year. I'm so very sorry to hear about little Emmy.

Unfortunately, our babies are often able to hide that they are ill until they are very sick. You did all you could to try to help her. I'm glad she left this world with you holding her and the last thing she saw was your face.

I hope your Izzy cat will be OK. Traci has some valid concerns here over the tests.

I'm sending prayers for Emmy as she goes to the Bridge as a well, young, happy kitty and prayers that Izzy is well.

Sue (and Kids!)